In November 2025, the urban wetlands team ran the Swamposium, an opportunity for a small group of researchers and creative practitioners to spend the day together. Right in the middle of the construction site at Dank Street South Precinct, where the undergrounded waterways connect with Alexandra Canal, we met on Country as residents of the Open Field Agency (OPA) to talk about urban wetlands, swamps, creeks and canals.
The OPA began in 2017 by artist Heidi Axelsen and architect Hugo Moline (MAPA). The OFA reframes public art as an ongoing, community-based project, working closely within the complex processes of urban redevelopment. This approach was conceived of for the Dank Street South Precinct after many discussions with locals and community organisations about how to maintain social and spatial openness of a place which is undergoing rapid transformation. In their discussions with the local community about the Dank Street South Precinct MAPA were faced with a series of questions:
- How can this place become and remain truly public?
- How can we bring together the voices of new and old communities and in process enrich a public space where all feel welcome?
- How can we harness the power of redevelopment to resist exclusive gentrification and make space for existing communities of First Nations, working class people and creatives in the city?
- How can we embed ongoing creation of culture here, now and into the future?
The event has led to the creative of the Swamposium Reading Group, and has paved the way for a series of walks in early 2026.
urbanwetlands.online 